Hambantota residents join Port protesters

A group of Hambabtota residents have joined the fray at the Hambantota port, where Sri Lanka Ports Authority workers are protesting.

The residents say they opposed to giving land to the Chinese.

Sri Lanka is in negotiations to enter into a public-private partnership (PPP) with a Chinese company to ease accumulated debt in the South, from the previous government.

Workers at the Hambantota port are currently in their eighth day of satyagraha against the government's decision.

They say they will lose their jobs to the Chinese if the government goes ahead with the planned PPP. In the event the government does go ahead with the proposed PPP, the port workers ask they be absorbed into the permanent cadre to ensure their jobs.

The $ 1 billion debt-for- equity swap will see China set up a LNG Power plant, a refinery, a cement factory and dockyard, at a total investment of approximately USD 8 billion on an initial 15 sq km of land.